International Day of Military Sports 2022 – Belgium

LEOPOLDSBURG (BEL) – Yesterday, Wednesday October 19, the CISM HQ joined the Belgian Delegation to CISM that, together with the Belgian Defense, organized the International Day of Military Sports to celebrate the CISM creation in 1948 after an interruption of two years due to the pandemic.

During this event, which took place in presence of the CISM Secretary General, Navy Captain Roberto Recchia, and the CISM Treasurer General, Colonel Sven Serré, all the participants from the Belgian Armed Forces and the CISM General Secretariat staff took part in a 6 or 10km jogging or a 6km walk in the Kamp Beverlo of Leopoldsburg, host of this event.

We will also note the participation of the following elite athletes of the Belgian Defense: Simon Debognies (Athletics - 5.000m and 10. 000m), Ben Adriaensens (Archery), Neisser Loyola (Fencing), Alexander Doom (Athletics - 400m), Alessia Corrao (Judo), Victor Martinez (Gymnastics), Dieter Kersten (Athletics Marathon), Robin Hendrix (Athletics – 5.000m and 10.000m) as well as the Belgian triathlon legend Frederik Van Lierde.

The objective of the International Day of Military Sports is to show to the world in an even stronger and more complete way the presence of our organization at the international level and the importance of sports for the military and their activities. Each delegation has the opportunity to organize and promote an International Day of Military Sports through a sports activity outside or inside the barracks, with military and civilians together promoting the values of friendship, sport, and peace under the CISM motto, "Friendship through Sport".

With its participation to the event, the CISM HQ wanted to witness this important “re-start” and is now looking forward to the next year edition that will hopefully mark the return to the so wished normality.

Thank you, Belgium, and see you next year !

(Source: CISM Media & Communication Department)